Iditarod

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Four-time champion Martin Buser is holding on to his lead in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The Big Lake musher was the first to reach the checkpoint at Nikolai, clocking in at 1:09 a.m. Tuesday, followed more than four hours later by Nicolas Petit of Girdwood.

Thirty mushers and 420 dogs are hitting Minnesota trails in a rebooted John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon that offers new features to make it easier for fans to follow along. Sunday’s Beargrease is the longest dog sled race in the Lower 48 states and is a qualifier for Alaska’s famed Iditarod.